OK, I was thinking about why I've set up this blog, and, after reading the excellent blog from Dreaming In Italian, I've realized that one of the reasons was to improve my Italian and knowledge of Italian culture. With this in mind, I've decided to give myself a challenge.

For one Tuesday a month (or thereabouts, I have a demanding day job as well), I'm going to pick an Italian song from YouTube, and then attempt to translate it. Now, first of all, my Italian isn't great, so this is really a challenge. Secondly, I may not be perfect, so please do disagree with me and correct me (but please don't be too harsh!!)

OK, here goes....

For my first 'Translate Tuesday', I've picked a song by Tiziano Ferro called Il Regalo Più Grande. Initially, I didn't like Tiziano Ferro songs very much. Coming from the UK, I found them too wordy and not catchy enough. However, they've grown on me since then, and this one is actually one of my favourites. I can catch most of the words when listening, so this should be a good test to see if I actually do understand as much as I think!

I want to make a present (i.e. give you a present)
Something sweet
Something rare (precious?)
It's not a communal gift (i.e. to share)
something you have lost
never opened
or left on the train
or never accepted
It's the kind of thing that you open, and then cry
Something that satisfies, where you don't pretend
In this day in the middle of September
You've decided this
My greatest gift.

I would like to donate your smile to the moon because
it is the night that watches what I think of you
To remember that it is my love that is the most important
It's not important what the people say
Because you have protected me with your jealousy and also
no matter how tired your smile did not go
I must leave something in your heart
Your presence is always arriving there
It never leaves
My greatest gift
my greatest gift.

I want to make you a gift,
A dream expressed,
Let me donate it know,
Those things I do not know how to open,
In front of other people,
Because this is the greatest gift,
That is only for us for always.

I want to donate you smile to the moon because,
The night can then see what I think of you,
To remember that my love is important,
That it's not important what the people say,
Because I will protect you from their jealousy and also,
Even when you're tired your smile will never leave,
I must leave because I know in my heart,
That your presence is always arriving,
It must never...

And if the end arrived now,
That or to fall in a ravine,
Not for wanting to me to hate,
Only for wanting to fly
And if it denies all that extreme agony to you
and if it denies to you also the life I breathe
And I was careful not to love before we encountered
and confused my life with that of the others
I do not want anything that makes me evil
The love my love

I want to donate you smile to the moon because,
The night can then see what I think of you,
To remember that my love is important,
That it's not important what the people say,
It must never...
And then
La`amore dato amore preso amore mai reso
Amore grande come il tempo che non si e`arreso
Amore che mi parla coi tuoi occhi qui di fronte
Sei tu sei tu sei tu sei tu sei tu
Il regalo mio più grande

Given love taken love, love never rendered
Great love like the time that surrendered,
The Love that speaks to me here with your eyes at the front,
It's you, it's you, it's you, it's you, it's you,
My greatest gift.

What do you think? Is it a reasonable translation? I have to say, translating it, I'm less fond of the song. It makes Tiziano Ferro sound like a stalker!
;-)

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About Me

In 2004 I met an Italian and my life changed forever. Since then, I've been exploring my little bit of Italy, the area just north of Rome in regione Lazio, one weekend away at a time.
This blog details my journey along with hints and tips on how to survive off the tourist trail in 'real' Italy.